Neymar is back in Barcelona's starting lineup for this evening's Catalan derby with Espanyol following his recent one-match suspension.

The Brazil international joins Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in attack, while Denis Suarez is preferred to both Andre Gomes and Ivan Rakitic in midfield.

There is no place for the injured Jeremy Mathieu in the Barca ranks, meanwhile, with Javier Mascherano and Gerard Pique again paired in central defence, as the hosts look to close the gap on La Liga pacesetters Real Madrid.

In terms of the visitors, who have struggled to find the net in this fixture in recent years, they are without Victor Alvarez, Hernan Perez and Leo Baptistao from the off due to injury.

Felipe Caicedo is therefore handed a starting berth at Camp Nou, a week on from bagging his first goal of the season to help Espanyol stretch their unbeaten league run to nine games.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Busquets, D. Suarez, Iniesta, Messi, Neymar, L. Suarez

Espanyol: Diego Lopez, J. Lopez, David Lopez, Reyes, Aaron, Javi Fuego, Diop, Jurado, Piatti, Moreno, Caicedo

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Written by
Daniel Lewis